Spring assembly



1940- E. .J. CONDON 2,217,156

SPRING ASSEMBLY- Filed Nov. 2, 1939 ZINVENTOR. 4 fawg g ATTORNEYfi'.

Patented Oct. 8, 1940 UNITED sTArss PATENT OFFICE I SPRING ASSEMBLY Elmer J. Condon, Muncie, Ind., assignor to The Moore Company, Muncie, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application November 2, 1939, Serial No. 302,495

6 Claims.

My invention relates to spring units or assemblies of the type embodied in inner-spring mattresses, seat-cushions, etc. Such assemblies embody a plurality of rows of generally helical compression springs having their end turns flexibly interconnected to maintain the springs in proper relative positions, the upper and lower end turns of the springs along the margins of the assembly being secured respectively to upper and lower border frames.

The present application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application Serial No. 253,553, filed January 30, 1939.

My invention relates particularly to that type of spring assembly in which the border frame is of flat stock, and has for its principal object the interconnection of the border frames with the marginal spring turns in such a way that each of such spring turns will be located definitely in the plane of the border frame but will still possess a certain freedom of angular movement about the border frame as an axis.

In carrying out my invention I form the end turns of marginal compression springs with three outwardly extending offsets which overlap the border frame, and on each side of the border frame I dispose a helical spring which closely surrounds the border frame. The offsets are so disposed and the construction is so assembled that the three offsets alternately engage the inner and outer surfaces of the helical spring; and the ofisets overlap the border frame to different extents, so that one offset, preferably the middle one, will still overlap the border frame for a considerable distance when the end coil of the compression spring is moved inwardly of the assembly to the limit of movement permitted by the helical spring.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention: Fig. l is a fragmental plan view of a corner of a spring assembly; Fig. 2 is a fragmental view similar to Fig. 1, but on an enlarged scale, showing an end turn of one compression spring and the adjacent portion of the border frame in normal condition; Fig. 3 is a fragmental view similar to Fig. 2, but showing an end turn of a marginal compression spring at the limit of its movement inwardly of the spring assembly;

and Fig. 4 is a fragmental section on the line extend into overlapping relation and are embraced by helical springs l2 extending transversely of the rows of compression springs in a conventional manner. The assembly is pro- V vided with upper and lower border frames which j extend completely around the assembly and to which the end coils of the marginal compression springs ID are secured. Only the upper border frame I3 is indicated in the drawing, as t the lower border frame may be identical with it. 1

As is clear from Fig. 4, I make each of the border frames of flat stock bent in its own plane to conform to the margin of the assembly. Each end turn of each compression spring at the mar- N gin of the assembly is provided with three outwardly extending offsets l5, l6, and I1, each desirably of a general V-shape, overlapping the border frame.

To secure the end turns of the compression springs ID to the border frame, I employ helical o springs l 8 closely surrounding the material of the border frame and extending longitudinally thereof. The offsets I5, l6, and I1 alternately engage the inner and outer surfaces of the helical spring l8. In the particular arrangement illustrated in 25 the drawing, the offsets l5 and I1 engage the inner surface of the helical spring 18 while the center offset I6 engages the outer surface of the helical spring. In other words, two spaced coils of the helical spring l8 pass through the offsets 30 I5 and [1, while the offset l6 extends into the space between adjacent coils of the helical spring By the arrangement described, the end turns of the compression springs at the margin of the 3 assembly are definitely located along the border frame. Inward movement of each end coil relative to the border frame is prevented by the presence of coils of the helical spring l8 within the ofisets l5 and I1; outward movement of the spring turn relative to the border frame is prevented by engagement of the sides of the offset I6 with the outer surface of the helical spring l8; and movement of the spring turn longitudinally of the border frame is prevented by the engage- 4 ment of the sides of the offsets l5 and I! with the wire of the helical spring. At the same time, all points of engagement between the spring turn and the helical spring are disposed adjacent the one edge (the inner edge, as shown) of the border frame l3, so that the spring turn and the material of the border frame are not confined to the same plane but may move angularly relative to each other about the inner edge of the border frame as an axis. As a result of this I5 possibility of angular movement, the assembly possesses along its margins a higher degree of flexibility than if the border frame and the end turns of the compression springs were confined to the same plane.

For ease of assembly, the internal diameter of each helical spring I8 must be somewhat greater than the width of the material of the border frame I3; and asa result, when the end turn of a marginal compression spring I0 is moved inwardly of the spring assembly relatively to the border frame, there will exist between the inner edge of the border frame I3 and the adjacent inner surface of the helical l8 a gap or space indicated at 2B in Fig. 4. Through inaccuracies of manufacture and through excessive stresses imposed upon the spring assembly in use, the gap 20 might be, or might become, larger than the material of which the springs H] are formed; and in such an event, the offsets I5, [6, and I! might pass through the respective gaps 20 to the opposite face of the border frame. To prevent this, I make the offset l 6, which engages the outer surface of the helical I8, of somewhat greater extent radially of the associated compression spring I!) than are the other offsets I5 and l! which engage the inner surface of the helical spring l8. As a result, when the offsets I5 and I! engage the inner surface of the helical spring I8 to limit movement of the end turn of the associated compression spring 10 inwardly of the assembly, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, the offset It will still overlap the border frame l3 to a considerable extent and will thus prevent any passage of the offsets from one face of .the border spring to the opposite face thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a spring assembly having a plurality of rows of compression springs, a border frame of flat stock surrounding said assembly in the plane of the end turns of said springs, each of the end turns adjacent said border frame being provided with two V-shaped offsets projecting outwardly of the spring assemblyv into overlapping relation with the border frame and being spaced longitudinally of the border frame, and a helical spring embracing said border frame, two non-adjacent turns of said helical spring passing respectively through said two ofi'sets adjacent the inner edge of said border frame to hold them in association with said border frame, said end turn being provided between said two offsets with a third offset extending outwardly into the space between adjacent turns of said helical spring, said third offset projecting outwardly of the assembly to a greater extent than do theother two offsets.

2. In a spring assembly having a plurality of rows of compression springs,aborder frame of flat stock surrounding said assembly in the planeof the end turns of said springs, each of the end turns adjacent said border frame being provided with three offsets projecting outwardly of the spring assembly into overlapping relation with the border frame andbeing spaced longitudinally of the border frame, and a helical spring embracing said border frame, said three offsets engaging alternately the inner and outer surfaces of said helical spring, each ofiset engaging the outer surface of said helical spring having a portion disposed in the space between two adjacent turns of the helical spring and projecting outwardly of the spring assembly to a greater extent than does each offset engaging the inner surface of said helical spring.

3. In a spring assembly having a plurality of rows of compression springs, a border frame of flat stock surrounding said assembly in the plane of the end turns of said springs, each of the end turns adjacent saidborder frame being provided with two V-shaped offsets projecting outwardly of the spring assembly into overlapping relation with the border frame and being spaced longitudinally of the border frame, and a helical spring embracing said border frame, two non-adjacent turns of said helical spring passing respectively through said two ofi'sets to hold them in association with said border frame, said end turn being provided between said two offsets with a third offset extending outwardly into the space between adjacent turns of said helical spring, said third offset, projecting outwardly of the spring assembly for a greater distance than do the other offsets.

4. In a spring assembly having a plurality of with two V-shaped offsets overlapping the border frame and spaced longitudinally thereof, and a helical spring embracing said border frame, two non-adjacent turns of said helical spring passing respectively through said two offsets adjacent the inner edge of said border frame to hold them in association with said border frame, said end turn being provided between said two offsets with a third offset extending outwardly into the space between adjacent turns of said helical spring.

5. In a spring assembly having a plurality of rows of compression springs, a border frame of, flat stock surrounding said assembly in the plane of the end turns of said springs, each of the end turns adjacent said border frame being provided with three offsets overlapping the border frame and spaced longitudinally thereof, and a helical spring embracing said border frame, said three ofisets engaging alternately the'inner and outer surfaces of said helical spring, each offset engaging the outer surface of said helical spring having a portion disposed in the space between two adjacent turns of the helical spring.

6. In a spring assembly having a plurality of rows of compression springs, a border frame of flat stock surrounding said assembly in the plane of the end turns of said springs, each of the end turns adjacent said border frame being provided with two V-shaped offsets overlapping the border frame and spaced longitudinally thereof, and a helical spring embracing said border frame, two non-adjacent turns of said helical spring passing respectively through said two offsets to hold them in association with said border frame, said end turn being providedbetween said two offsets with a third offset extending outwardly into the space between adjacent turns of said helical spring.

ELMER J. CONDQN. 

